華嚴經義海百門 1.142

1.142

Tenth, "Realizing the Buddhabhūmi": this means that the dust mote's emptiness, selflessness, and animitta are the bhūmi. However, the essence of this bhūmi is not yet pure, because it is attained from the manifestation of the mark of self; the understanding mind is not yet at rest, and this is also an impure view. If one generates the thought of departing from emptiness and animitta, it is still an impure mind, meaning that the conception of departing has not yet ceased. Now, to generate no conception of departing and to have no movement of thought occurs because the thought's cessation is newly attained, manifested freshly from the place of moving thoughts. Now, when there is neither generating the thought of departing nor not generating the thought of departing, at the time this bhūmi is manifested, it is wisdom itself; it cannot be explained with skillful means, nor can it be expressed in words, but will manifest by itself. This is still a provisional discussion. If spoken in accordance with principle, it is not something known by consciousness, just like the flight of a bird in the sky whose tracks cannot be sought, relying on the place of the tracks. However, although the tracks in the sky have no substantial characteristics that can be found, the tracks are not non-existent; if one seeks these tracks, they become ever wider, yet one must rely on the bird's flight before one can discuss the depth and breadth of the tracks. One should know that the buddhabhūmi must rely on mental characteristics in order to realize the depth and breadth of the buddhabhūmi. Yet upon realizing and entering this bhūmi, one must not dwell single-mindedly in quiescent extinction; all buddha-dharmas are not like this. One should instruct, benefit, and gladden, train in the Buddhas' skillful means, and train in the Buddhas' wisdom, fully possessing the meaning and locus of this bhūmi. Ponder this!